Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Muscatine, IA

Muscatine is an ideal place for camping adventures of all kinds. Muscatine is filled with the activities, sights, and experiences to make everyone in your crew a happy camper. Find the best campgrounds near Muscatine, IA. Read reviews from campers like you and find your perfect campsite.

Best Dog-Friendly Sites Near Muscatine, Iowa (103)

    1. Shady Creek

    17 Reviews
    Illinois City, IL
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (563) 419-0857

    $14 - $26 / night

    "What a gem we found in Muscatine Iowa. Level poured pad for RV, electric and nice fire pits. Large sites. Clean restrooms and lots of hot water for Shower."

    "We could see multiple fire works shows if we walked around the campground with the neighbors across the street putting on a pretty great "amateur" show. "

    2. Wildcat Den State Park Campground

    10 Reviews
    Illinois City, IL
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (563) 263-4337

    $12 - $25 / night

    "Surrounded by cornfields, rolling hills and the Mississippi River, this park is tucked neatly away in Southeast Iowa. We've been here in all four seasons and each one provides a different landscape."

    "Lovely little campside with 19 places, rustical without electricity, dump etc. But got one waterstation and toilets. Every space with picknicktable and fireplace, surrounded by trees."

    3. Clarks Ferry

    11 Reviews
    Illinois City, IL
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (563) 419-7594

    $25 - $26 / night

    "Just off Highway 22 and runs along Mississippi River and railroad tracks. Shady sites, showers, 50 amp service, fish cleaning station, playground, and small amphitheater for naturalist programs. "

    "Has playground for younger children, near Wild Cat Den State Park."

    4. Riverview Campground - Loud Thunder Forest Preserve

    8 Reviews
    Illinois City, IL
    13 miles
    Website

    "The sites are very close to each other. The sites at Riverview and Silva both seemed smaller."

    "Good campgrounds with trails including equestrian options, and water! Can rent canoes, kayaks, and pontoons! Bait shop, fishing, food options with town just a few miles away."

    5. Langwood Education Center

    5 Reviews
    Fruitland, IA
    11 miles
    Website

    $99 - $194 / night

    "Campground Review:

    Surrounded by hardwood forests and native prairie, Langwood Education Center, located in rural Wapello, Iowa is the perfect spot for nature retreats, family gatherings, outdoor"

    6. Saulsbury Bridge Recreation Area - Main Camping

    4 Reviews
    West Liberty, IA
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (563) 264-5922

    $15 - $20 / night

    "Located in Muscatine County in southeast Iowa, this rec area offers well-maintained campgrounds, hiking trails, fishing, kayaking/canoeing and seasonal hunting.

    There are three separate campgrounds."

    7. Cedar River Campground

    11 Reviews
    West Liberty, IA
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (563) 946-2431

    $35 - $50 / night

    "Convenient location a lot of amenities and activities"

    8. Fairport State Recreation Area Campground

    5 Reviews
    Illinois City, IL
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (563) 263-4337

    $23 / night

    "Great fishing, near Fairport Fish Hatchery, and Wild Cat Den State Park."

    9. Saulsbury Bridge Rec Area - Cedar River Campground

    3 Reviews
    West Liberty, IA
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (563) 264-5922

    $10 - $20 / night

    "There are sites along the river, while others are larger tucked along the woods and not close to each other. Perfect get away. 15-20 minutes to the closest town."

    10. Deep Lakes Park Cabins

    2 Reviews
    Fruitland, IA
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (563) 264-5922

    $110 - $250 / night

    "Neat, newer cabins nettled along the sand pit lakes. Well maintained park with bike trail running through, fishing, hiking, paddling all within areas of cabins."

    "Cabins are newer, ADA accessible, and face lakes for great shore access and shared fire pits."

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Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Muscatine, IA

565 Reviews of 103 Muscatine Campgrounds


  • D
    Oct. 25, 2022

    Camelot Campground Quad Cities USA

    Great for an overnight

    Gravel pad for one night. Didn’t use facilities, pool was closed for the season. Very nice walk around the lake, dog park was not large, but clean with enough room to run. There were much nicer spots, but we had all we needed for one night.

  • James M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 9, 2024

    Horseshoe Pond

    Nice smaller CG in City of Maquoketa, Iowa

    CG offers gravel pads, tables, fire rings, electric, sump station, water, small pond with fishing, paddling, dog park. Close to stores for supplies, dining, fuel.

  • James M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 9, 2021

    Clarks Ferry

    Nice family and river campground

    Just off Highway 22 and runs along Mississippi River and railroad tracks. Shady sites, showers, 50 amp service, fish cleaning station, playground, and small amphitheater for naturalist programs.  Near Wild Cat Den SP, Fairport Rec Area, and Towns of Buffalo to north & Muscatine to south ( food, drinks, supplies)

  • James M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 24, 2021

    Horseshoe Pond

    Small City CG in Maquoketa Iowa

    CG lies within Maquoketa and is seasonal. Has pond for fishing, shelter, dog park, playset, disc golf course. Sites are pulling, have electric and fire pits. Camp supplies including wood in nearby stores. Prairie Creek runs along south of CG.

  • James M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 31, 2021

    Lakeside RV Park and Campground

    Travelling overnight stay suggested

    I suggest this site only if you need to get off the road for an overnight stay. Very few amenities, all but a few spots appear to be full-time RV living onsite, has nice playground, gazebo, dog park (small), lake is small but appears well kept, electric/water/septic onsite.

  • Skylar M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 25, 2025

    Geneseo Campground

    Stayed for a night passing through

    Great campground. Has full hook ups, and pull through sites. Hosts are very responsive to texts if you need anything. They warned me ahead of time that GPS would navigate me under a 10 ft bridge and gave me directions around it!! They have a dog park, bathroom, propane, and trash. Very nice place

  • James M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 31, 2021

    Shady Creek

    Nice CG along Great River Road

    This CG is actually on the Iowa side of the Mississippi River and managed by USCOE. Along and off US Highway 22 near Wildcat Den SP and Fairport State Rec Area. Near railroad. Near towns of Buffalo and Muscatine.

  • Stuart K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 1, 2025

    Geneseo Campground

    Hidden Gem Along Slow-Moving Canal

    This is an incredibly quaint, somewhat out-of-the-way (in a very good way) location that will treat you to a heavy dose of isolation and privacy wherein you’ll feel completely blessed by the nature you will be surrounded by. This incredibly friendly (pet-friendly as well BTW) operation does an excellent job in how it is set up, offering up a few distinct loops that are ear-marked pretty much exclusively for the wheel-toting camping variety (think RVs, rigs, trailers and 5th wheels) providing 59 pull-thru and 12 back-in slots, while also offering up a discreet space flanked towards the front of the property that is simply perfect for mi tent pitchin’ bredren, which is surrounded by mature Oaks. And, just in case you either forgot your tent or RV, Geneseo Campground has 4 super comfy cabins (each sleeps 4 and come with A/C) or an amazing yurt that sleeps 8 that they’ll gladly rent you.

    From an amenities standpoint, there’s an amazing kid’s playground, well-stocked camp store, propane refueling station, kayak & canoe rental, gas grill rental, e-bike, pedal carts & fat tire bike rental, full and partial hook-ups offering 30 / 50 electric amp, water & sewage hook-ups. There’s also a meeting room, WiFi everywhere, enclosed dog park, firewood & ice for sale, arcade games, RV dump station, coin-operated washers & dryers / laundr-O-mat, excellent showers & bathrooms, direct access to the Hennepin Canal and don’t forget the 60 or so miles worth of hiking trails!

    This place is spacious, very well organized, incredibly clean all the while within a short 10 minute drive into nearby Geneseo, which quite frankly, is one of the most idyllic small towns you’ll come across anywhere in Illinois that is both convivial and provincial, but also quite emblematic of a typical Norman Rockwell painting. What I loved most about this place is that while it doesn’t offer up EVERYTHING that you might be looking for while camping, you only need to head due south to Izaak Walton Park (further south of this spot) or to Geneseo Prairie Park, both of which offer up amazing hiking trails as well as good launch spots to access the Hennepin Canal via kayak and canoe.

    Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) If you’re reeling, you should expect to catch blue gill, catfish, bass and crappie, and while you can throw your line from the Geneseo Campground property, I would highly recommend you cross the canal to Izaak Walton Park on its east side where there’s a large open canal / lake to cast in; (2) While there’s tons of hiking trails, you don’t want to forget your bikes – there’s 72 miles of biking trails as well as miles and miles of nicely paved empty country roads to pedal on; (3) Maybe you have a kayak or canoe, but in the case you don’t, do yourself a favor and rent one from the good people at Geneseo Campground in which to explore the Hennepin Canal - trust me, you won't be disappointed; and (4) Should you grow weary of eating franks & beans again from your campsite and want to try out some local cuisine, then get yourself over to nearby Geneseo where you can dine out at The Cellar, Sweet Peas Grill & Bar or Geneseo Brewing Company.

    Happy Camping!

  • K
    Sep. 3, 2020

    Shady Creek

    One of our favorites

    What a gem we found in Muscatine Iowa. Level poured pad for RV, electric and nice fire pits. Large sites. Clean restrooms and lots of hot water for Shower. Beautiful views of the Mississippi and most of all quiet.


Guide to Muscatine

If you're looking for pet-friendly camping options near Muscatine, Iowa, there are several great spots where you and your furry friends can enjoy the great outdoors together.

Pet owners like the amenities offered at these campgrounds

  • At Shady Creek, you can enjoy electric hookups and picnic tables, making it a comfortable stay for both you and your pet.
  • Buffalo Shores County Park features clean restrooms and a boat launch, perfect for a day of fishing or paddling with your dog by your side.
  • Cedar River Campground offers a friendly atmosphere with plenty of space for your pet to roam around while you relax by the river.

Tips for camping with dogs near Muscatine

  • Always keep your dog on a leash at Wildcat Den State Park Campground to ensure their safety and the comfort of other campers.
  • Bring plenty of water and bowls for your pet, especially when visiting Hills Access Campground, as drinking water may not be available on-site.
  • Make sure to pack waste bags to clean up after your pet, which is essential at Langwood Education Center to maintain the natural beauty of the area.

Dog-friendly activities while camping near Muscatine

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Muscatine, IA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Muscatine, IA is Shady Creek with a 4.6-star rating from 17 reviews.

What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Muscatine, IA?

TheDyrt.com has all 103 dog-friendly camping locations near Muscatine, IA, with real photos and reviews from campers.